Automatic train-pipe coupling



March 11, 1930. J. ROBINSON AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPL ING Original Filed April 26, 1926 Q INVEN,T0R.

Fig.5

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 11, 1930 I JOSEIEI-I ROBINSON, 01? NEW YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN-PIPE COUPLING Application filed Aprii 26, 1926, Serial No. 104,765. Renewed January 15, 1929.

My invention relates to automatic train pipe couplings, and more particularly to brackets, or universal supports, for such couplings. Among its objects are toprovide an improved means for permitting universal movement to the coupling head, themeans including especially an improved bracket whichis inexpensive to make, simple, strong,

and very efiicient.

Theinvention resides inthe combinations,

arrangements and improvements hereinafter described, pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of my improvement.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the bracket A shown in Figure 1. In this view the member C is shownin section, and the tie rod 7 is omitted. r

in elevation.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the center'of the anchor device or lower end D" of thebracket. the forward end of the tie rod 7 is shown Figure 4 is a section through the bracket on substantially the line 44 of'Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings: I attach my improved bracket A to a suitable lug B of a car coupler, not shown. A member C, such as shown in my co-pending application, Serial No. 364,920, filed March 11th, 1920, for improvements in automatic train pipe connectors, spans the lower end D of the bracket, and carries at its forward end a suitable coupling head-notshown. The member is provided with a vertically extending projection 5 against which a bufi'er or supporting spring 6 is seated. The spring yieldingly supports the member C and the coupling head (not shown) with the flange 5 normally bearing firmly against the rear side of the bracket. The spring surrounds a one-piece tie rod 7, which extends through the flange 5 and is hooked over the anchor device or lower end D of the bracket and carries at its rear end an adjustable abutment 8 by which the spring 6 is held in place, and is tied to the tie rod 7, under compression. These parts, with the exception of the bracket A, are in pipe coupling bracket.

In this view substantially the same relative arrangement, and of substantially the'same construction and function as the similar parts in my aforesaid co-pending applicatio With few exceptions the designs of previous brackets arev such that they must be made by the expensive method of casting. The relatively few types which might be forged are of cumbersome design, and hence very costly to manufacture.

One of the objects ofmy' invention is to eliminate these objections and greatly reduce the cost of manufacturing an automatic train I accomplish this object by simplifying the bracket and so designing it that it may be readily forged or pressed from suitable material. My improved bracket A is formed of three pieces, 9, l and 11, part 9 and 10 being complementary halves, and the part 11 being a T shaped cross bar which forms a seat against which the flange rests. The halves 9 and are preferably pressed from a suitable fiat Wrought iron or steel bar, the upper end of each part being flared or oif-set laterally to span the lug B, and each part having vertically spaced punched 'or drilled holes to receive the bolts 12, by which the bracket is clamped to the lug B. At 14 each half of the bracket A is spread or opened to admit the tongue 15 of the cross bar 11. To secure the cross bar in position, and also to position the halves 9 and 10 in proper relation one to the other, a rivet or other suitable means 16 is passed through the halves 9 and 10, and the tongue 15, at this point.

The lower end, or anchor device D, of each half of the bracket A is semi-circular in cross section at 17, igure 2) so that when the halves are secured together by the rivet 16 and the bolts 12, a seat 18, cylindrical in cross section, is formed, and into the seat is mounted, for rocking movement thereon, the forward end of the tie rod 7sce especially Figures 1 and 3. The forward end of the tie rod is provided with an elongated opening 19, and

which allows the tie rod to be assembled into the seat 18 by passing it upwardly over the lower end or anchor device D of the bracket. To prevent dislodgment of the tie rod 7 from its seat 18 on the bracket the lower wall of the seat is extended forwardly slightly as shown at in Figure 1'. Any possibility of the lower end of the halves 9' and 10, which form the anchor device D, spreading in service is provided against not only by the rivetin cross section, asshow'n'inFigure 1, and it and the seat 18 therefore flare 1n opposlte d1- rections at their point of contact.

To form a seat on the bracket A for the member or pipe G, and to prevent dislodgment of the member from the bracket in event any of the parts break in service, the extreme lower'endsof the halves 9'and 10 are turned outwardly, asat 21. Upon these out-turned portions the sides, or straps 22, of the member C slidingly rest. The straps are provided 21 and the cross bar 11 to position the member G and the coupling head when the. automatic coupling moves to the normal uncoupled position. This arrangement prevents undue rotation of the coupling head when in the uncoupled position, and permits of limited rotation thereof when in the.

coupled position, thus increasing the flexibility of my improved universal oint.

The opening 19 in the tie rod 7 is of course large enough to permit the tie rod to be passed upwardly over the portions 21 into its seat 18 on theanchor dev-ice D. I v a What I claim is: Y i

1. An automatic tram pipe coupling comprislng 1n combinat on, a coupling head, a

. hollow member-secured thereto and provided at its rear end with a perforated projection,

a tie rod extending through the perforation. in said projection into said hollow member,

an abutment on said tie rod, a spring confined between said abutment and said prejcction for yieldingly sustaining said coupling head, a cross bar against which said projection normally bears, and a bracket extending from above downwardly through said hollow member and said-tie rod, said bracket being formed of separate halves rod is mounted for rocking movement, the

halves of said bracket being oft-set intermediate their ends to receive said cross bar.

2. In an automatic train pipe coupling, the combination of a coupling head, a hollow member secured thereto, means for yieldingly sustaining said member and said coupling head, said means including a. tie rod,' a bracket extending from above said member downwardly therethrough and through said tie rod, said bracket being formed of separate halves suitably secured together and having at its lower end integrally formed out-turned portions, a cross bar secured between the halves of said bracket at a point above said tie rod, and means on said vmemwhich isoiT-setat its upper end to span a lug, and each. of which is provided at its lower end with a semi-circular seat for a'tie 8O rod, out-turned portions at the'lower "end of each half of the bracket, a cross bar'secured between the halves of the bracket at a point above saidtie rod seat, and means for'securing the halves of said bracket together.

4. A bracket for an automatic train pipe coupling, comprising separate halves each lug, 'and'each of which is provided at. its

lower end with a semi-circular seat for a tie rod, out-turned portions at the lowerend of each half ofthe bracket, a cr'oss bar secured between the halves of the bracket at apoint above, said tie rod seat, and means for preventing spreading of the halves of said bracket at the point. where. they form said seat, said means including atie rod extendmounted. on said seat.

ing around the lower end'ot said bracket and 5. A bracket for automatic train pipecon-inectors, comprising two flat complementary halves rigidly. securedtogether, a cross bar secured between said halves intermediate 6. A'bracket for automatic train pipe connectors, comprising two flat. complementary halves. rigidly secured. together, said halves attheir upper portion being separated to permit receiving a lug therebetween, each of said halves adj acentits lower end being pro- -vided with a semi-circularportion, whereby a substantially circular seat is termed on'the jof-whichis ofi set at its'upper-end to span a V with inclined or curved shoulders 23-and 2 L which contactwith the, out-turned portions bracket, and each of said'halves at its lower endbeing provided with an out-turnedend. suitably secured together, the lower end of which halves form a seat on which said tie their lengths, eachofsaidportions below said cross bar being rounded on its front edge, whereby a curved seatis formed on the front edge of the bracket.

8. A bracket for automatictrain pipe con- 5 nectors, comprising two complementaryiportions each provided with a; fiat face, means for securing said "portions together with tion, each of said their flat faces in contact, a cross bar secured between said portions intermediate their lengths, each of said portions at its lower end being bent laterally away from the other porportions above its lower end being rounded 011 its front edge, whereby a curved seat is formed on the bracket above said 1 tlons.

In testlmon slgnature.

the front edge of aterally bent pory whereof I hereunto affix my JOSEPH ROBINSON. 

